Begoniaplant named ‘BEGO 538’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Begonia  plant named ‘BEGO 538’, characterized by its compact and mounded plant habit; freely basal branching habit; relatively small leaves; and numerous flowers that are bright orange red in color.

Botanical designation: Begonia×tuberhybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BEGO 538’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant, botanically known as Begonia×tuberhybrida, commercially known as hybrid tuberose Begonia, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘BEGO 538’.

The new Begonia is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Hann. Münden, Germany. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new freely branching hybrid tuberose Begonia cultivars with small leaves and numerous flowers.

The new Begonia originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in June, 2001 of a proprietary selection of Begonia×tuberhybrida identified as code number Fu 41/5, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unidentified selection of Begonia sutherlandii, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Begonia was discovered and selected by the Inventor from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Hann. Münden, Germany during the summer of 2002.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia by cuttings in a controlled environment in Hann. Münden, Germany since the fall of 2002, has shown that the unique features of this new Begonia are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar BEGO 538 has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘BEGO 538’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘BEGO 538’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Begonia:

-   -   1. Compact and mounded plant habit.     -   2. Freely basal branching habit.     -   3. Relatively small leaves.     -   4. Numerous flowers that are bright orange red in color.

Plants of the new Begonia differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia are more freely branching and have         thinner stems than plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Begonia have smaller leaves than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Begonia have lighter-colored flowers than         plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Begonia differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia are larger and have thicker stems         than plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Begonia have larger leaves than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Begonia have larger and fuller flowers than         plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Begonia can also be compared to plants of the cultivar Helene Harms, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hann. Münden, Germany, plants of the new Begonia differed from plants of the cultivar Helene Harms in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia were larger than plants of the         cultivar Helene Harms.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Begonia were larger than Leaves         of plants of the cultivar Helene Harms.     -   3. Plants of the new Begonia and the cultivar Helene Harms         differed in flower color as plants of the cultivar Helene Harms         had yellow-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Begonia, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Begonia.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘BEGO 538’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘BEGO 538’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTIONS

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants used for the aforementioned photograph and following observations and measurements were grown in Ogden, Utah in 15.25-cm containers and under commercial practice in a polycarbonate-covered greenhouse during the spring and summer. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 24° C. night temperatures averaged 21° C. and light levels were about 4,000 foot-candles. Plants used for the photograph and the description were about two months from planting.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia×tuberhybrida cultivar BEGO 538. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Begonia×tuberhybrida identified as code number Fu 41/5, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unidentified selection of Begonia             sutherlandii, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 10 to 14 days at             temperatures of about 20° C. to 22° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 14 to 16 days at             temperatures of about 18° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four             weeks at temperatures of about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About five             weeks at temperatures of about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; 164C in color. Plants of             the new Begonia have not been observed to form tubers.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form.—Compact and mounded plant habit; freely basal             branching with about eight to nine primary branches per             plant; primary branches with secondary branches at             potentially every node. Vigorous and moderate growth rate.         -   Plant height.—About 15 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 30 cm.         -   Branch description.—Length: About 11.5 cm. Diameter: About             6 mm. Internode length: About 1.5 cm. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: 182B.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Simple, alternate. Length:             About 7 cm. Width: About 4.2 cm. Shape: Roughly ovate. Apex:             Acute. Base: Obliquely cordate. Margin: Erose. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Venation             pattern: Palmate; reticulate. Color: Developing leaves,             upper surface: 146A with intervenal areas of 178B.             Developing leaves, lower surface: 178A. Fully expanded             leaves, upper surface: 147A with intervenal areas of 176A;             venation, 146A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: 178A;             venation, 148A. Petiole length: About 3.4 cm. Petiole             diameter: About 3 mm. Petiole texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Petiole color, upper and lower             surfaces: 166D. Petiole color, lower surface: 183D. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—Rounded axially flowers with numerous             tepals. Freely flowering habit with about 17 to 20 flowers             and flower buds per branch. Flowers positioned mostly             outwardly arising from below the foliage. Flowers not             fragrant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously during             the spring in Germany. Flowers last about five days on the             plant. Flowers persistent.         -   Flowers.—Shape: Rounded to oval; rose-like. Diameter: About             3 cm. Depth (height): About 1.4 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Shape: Ovoid. Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter:             About 2 cm. Color: Close to 39A.         -   Tepals.—Arrangement: Rosette. Quantity per flower: Usually             about 15 per flower arranged in about five or six whorls.             Length: About 1.5 cm. Width: About 1.5 cm. Shape: Obovate.             Apex: Rounded, obtuse. Base: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color:             When opening, upper surface: 33A. When opening, lower             surface: 33B. Fully opened, upper surface: 33B; towards the             base, 19B. Color becoming closer to 30B with development.             Fully opened, lower surface: 33C. Color becoming closer to             30C with development.         -   Flower bracts.—Quantity/arrangement. Two, opposite. Length:             About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About 1.7 cm. Shape: Oval. Apex:             Obtuse. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Glabrous, smooth; velvety. Color, upper             surface: 31B. Color, lower surface: 35B.         -   Peduncles.—Angle: About 45° from vertical. Length: About             4 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: 182C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: None observed. Pistils: None             observed.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production have not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to     Begonia has not been observed. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Begonia have been observed     to tolerate temperatures from about 5° C. to about 40° C. 

1. A new and distinct Begonia plant named ‘BEGO 538’ as illustrated and described. 